Shiva Purana — Vayaviya Samhita, Shloka 20

स्कन्दसरः (Skandasara) — तीर्थवर्णनम् / Description of the Skandasara Sacred Lake

Devanagari script

उपास्यमानं मुनिभिर्योगींद्रैरपि पूजितम् । ददृशुर्नैमिषेयास्ते प्रणताश्चोपतस्थिरे

Transliteration

upāsyamānaṃ munibhiryogīṃdrairapi pūjitam | dadṛśurnaimiṣeyāste praṇatāścopatasthire

Translation

Les sages de Naimiṣāraṇya le contemplèrent—toujours médité par les munis et vénéré même par les seigneurs des yogins. S’inclinant avec révérence, ils demeurèrent tout près, dans un service dévot.

Word by Word

• उपास्यमानम्: being worshipped/served
• उपास्यमानम्: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: उप+√आस् (धातु)
• Form: Present passive participle (शानच्/मान), Masculine, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular; qualifying (him) Sanatkumāra

• मुनिभिः: by sages
• मुनिभिः: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मुनि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Instrumental (3rd/तृतीया), Plural

• योगीन्द्रैः: by great yogis
• योगीन्द्रैः: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: योगीन्द्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Instrumental (3rd/तृतीया), Plural; समास: योगिनाम् इन्द्रः (lord among yogins)

• अपि: also/even
• अपि: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अपि (अव्यय)
• Form: Particle (समुच्चय/अप्यर्थ)

• पूजितम्: honoured
• पूजितम्: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: √पूज् (धातु)
• Form: Past passive participle (क्त), Masculine, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular; qualifying the same object

• ददृशुः: they saw
• ददृशुः: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √दृश् (धातु)
• Form: Perfect tense (लिट्), Parasmaipada; 3rd person (प्रथम-पुरुष), Plural (बहुवचन)

• नैमिषेयाः: the Naimiṣa sages
• नैमिषेयाः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नैमिषेय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Plural; inhabitants of Naimiṣa

• ते: they
• ते: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Plural; pronoun referring to the Naimiṣeyas

• प्रणताः: bowed down
• प्रणताः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: प्र+√नम् (धातु)
• Form: Past participle (क्त), Masculine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Plural; 'having bowed'

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: Conjunction particle (समुच्चय-बोधक)

• उपतस्थिरे: they attended/stood near
• उपतस्थिरे: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: उप+√स्था (धातु)
• Form: Perfect tense (लिट्), Ātmanepada; 3rd person (प्रथम-पुरुष), Plural (बहुवचन)

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Shiva Form: Dakṣiṇāmūrti

Ritual Elements

Offering: pushpa

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Naimisharanya sages

FAQs

What is the spiritual significance of this verse in the Shiva Purana?

It presents Shiva as the supreme Pati—worthy of both yogic contemplation and devotional worship—showing that true realization culminates in reverent surrender and attentive service.

How does this verse relate to the worship of the Linga or Saguna Shiva?

The verse emphasizes “pūjitam” (worshipped) and “upāsyamānam” (meditated upon), aligning with Saguna upāsanā such as Linga-pūjā, where devotees both adore Shiva through ritual and internalize Him through dhyāna.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

A combined practice is implied: dhyāna (upāsanā) on Shiva along with pūjā and praṇāma (prostration); in Shaiva observance this naturally pairs with japa of the Pañcākṣarī (Om Namaḥ Śivāya) and disciplined worship.